twentieth century military sites: airfields – dispersed sites and defences

234 Pages·2014·6.84 MB·English

by  Alice Pyper

TWENTIETH CENTURY MILITARY SITES:
AIRFIELDS – DISPERSED SITES AND
DEFENCES

Final Report
A THREAT-RELATED ASSESSMENT 2013-2014
DAT 115A

Pillbox, one of a ring which encircles Aberporth airfield

Prepared by Dyfed Archaeological Trust
For Cadw
DYFED ARCHAEOLOGICAL TRUST
RHIF YR ADRODDIAD / REPORT NO. 2014/21
RHIF Y PROSIECT / PROJECT RECORD NO. 103632
DAT 115A
Mawrth 2014
March 2014

TWENTIETH CENTURY MILITARY SITES:
AIRFIELDS – DISPERSED SITES AND
DEFENCES

Gan / By

Alice Pyper & Marion Page

Paratowyd yr adroddiad yma at ddefnydd y cwsmer yn unig. Ni dderbynnir cyfrifoldeb gan Ymddiriedolaeth
Archaeolegol Dyfed Cyf am ei ddefnyddio gan unrhyw berson na phersonau eraill a fydd yn ei ddarllen neu
ddibynnu ar y gwybodaeth y mae’n ei gynnwys

The report has been prepared for the specific use of the client. Dyfed Archaeological Trust Limited can accept
no responsibility for its use by any other person or persons who may read it or rely on the information it
contains.

Ymddiriedolaeth Archaeolegol Dyfed Cyf Dyfed Archaeological Trust Limited

Neuadd y Sir, Stryd Caerfyrddin, Llandeilo, Sir The Shire Hall, Carmarthen Street, Llandeilo,
Gaerfyrddin SA19 6AF Carmarthenshire SA19 6AF
Ffon: Ymholiadau Cyffredinol 01558 823121 Tel: General Enquiries 01558 823121
Adran Rheoli Treftadaeth 01558 823131 Heritage Management Section 01558 823131
Ffacs: 01558 823133 Fax: [phone]
Ebost: [email protected] Email: [email protected]
Cwmni cyfyngedig (1198990) ynghyd ag elusen gofrestredig (504616) yw’r Ymddiriedolaeth. The Trust is both a Limited Company (No. 1198990) and a Registered
Gwefan: www.archaeolegdyfed.org.uk Charity (No. 5046W16e)b site: www.dyfedarchaeology.org.uk

CADEIRYDD CHAIRMAN: C R MUSSON MBE B Arch FSA MIFA. CYFARWYDDWR DIRECTOR: K MURPHY BA MIFA
CONTENTS
SUMMARY ............................................................................................................ 7
INTRODUCTION .................................................................................................... 7
PROJECT AIMS AND OBJECTIVES ............................................................................ 8
METHODOLOGY..................................................................................................... 8
SCOPE OF THE PROJECT ........................................................................................ 9
RESULTS ............................................................................................................ 11
CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS .............................................................. 12
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ......................................................................................... 13
REFERENCES ...................................................................................................... 14
PRIMARY SOURCES ............................................................................................. 15
GAZETTEER OF SITES .......................................................................................... 16
RAF ABERPORTH/BLAENANNERCH ...................................................................... 17
RAF ANGLE ...................................................................................................... 29
RAF / RNAS BRAWDY ........................................................................................ 45
RAF CAREW CHERITON ..................................................................................... 52
RAF DALE / RNAS DALE .................................................................................... 65
RAF HAVERFORDWEST...................................................................................... 88
RAF MANORBIER ............................................................................................ 102
RAF PEMBREY ................................................................................................ 111
RAF PEMBROKE DOCK .................................................................................... 134
RAF ST DAVIDS ............................................................................................. 157
RAF TALBENNY .............................................................................................. 171
RAF TEMPLETON ............................................................................................ 207
OTHER SITES ................................................................................................ 229

The copyright of this report is held jointly by Cadw and the Dyfed Archaeological Trust. The maps
are based on Ordnance Survey mapping provided by the Welsh Government with the permission of
the Controller of Her Majesty’s Stationary Office, Crown Copyright. All rights reserved.
Unauthorised reproduction infringes Crown Copyright and may lead to prosecution or civil
proceedings. Licence No: 100017916 (2009).
Twentieth Century Military Sites: Airfields – Dispersed sites and defences
Figure 1: Map of key sites .................................................................................... 10
Figure 2: A selection of site types represented (survival shown as percentage) .......... 12
Figure 3: Map showing RAF Aberporth and associated sites ...................................... 18
Figure 4: The easternmost pillbox tucked into the junction of two hedgerows ............. 22
Figure 5: Pillbox on western perimeter of airfield ..................................................... 24
Figure 6: 1942 Aerial Photograph showing hut camp (M2324(1) 107 1942) ................ 25
Figure 7: Pillbox to the south of the airfield at Aberporth .......................................... 26
Figure 8: Remains of demolished pillbox ................................................................ 27
Figure 9: A small building located to the northeast of the airfield .............................. 28
Figure 10: Map showing layout of dispersed sites at RAF Angle ................................. 30
Figure 11: Map showing RAF Angle and associated sites ........................................... 31
Figure 12: RAF Angle communal site ..................................................................... 32
Figure 13: High Frequency Direction Finding building located to east of airfield. .......... 34
Figure 14: Air Raid Shelter now found on Hubberston Farm formerly Site No 5. .......... 35
Figure 15: Modified pillbox to continue hedgeline to east of RAF Angle ...................... 36
Figure 16: Pillbox to the northwest of Angle airfield ................................................ 37
Figure 17: Former windmill modified for use as a gun emplacement ......................... 38
Figure 18: Ablutions block at the Communal site. ................................................... 39
Figure 20: The pumphouse located near South Studdock Farm ................................. 44
Figure 21: Map showing RAF/RNAS Brawdy and associated sites ............................... 46
Figure 22: Map showing layout of dispersed sites .................................................... 47
Figure 23: US Naval Facility building at Brawdy....................................................... 50
Figure 24: Map of RAF Carew Cheriton and associated sites ...................................... 53
Figure 25: Battle Headquarters and nearby pillbox at Flemington Farm ..................... 55
Figure 26: Pillbox to the east of the battle headquarters facing onto airfield ............... 56
Figure 27: Pillbox overlooking airfield beyond ......................................................... 57
Figure 28: Spigot Mortar overlooking Milton Bridge .................................................. 58
Figure 29: Spigot Mortar overlooking Sageston road junction ................................... 59
Figure 30: Motley stalk gun emplacement to the north of RAF Carew Cheriton. ........... 60
Figure 31: RAF AP showing hangar dispersals to the south of airfield (M 2330 1942) ... 61
Figure 32: Maplet showing location of RAF Carew Cheriton radio station..................... 63
Figure 33: Air raid shelter beside pillbox and gun emplacement ................................ 64
Figure 34: Map of RAF/RNAS Dale airfield and dispersed sites (inset map) ................. 66
Figure 35: Inset map showing location of buildings on the communal site. ................. 67
Figure 36: Map showing Dale dispersed sites .......................................................... 68
Figure 37: Motley stalk gun emplacement at the southwest corner of the airfield. ....... 79
Figure 38: Earthen bank remains of a firing range ................................................... 80
Figure 39: BCF huts, one Receiver block and the picket post..................................... 80
Figure 40: Maplet showing the Radio Station near Fopston Farm. .............................. 82
Figure 41: Mast fixing in the foreground and Transmitter block to the rear ................. 83
Figure 42: Second gun emplacement at the southwestern edge of airfield. ................. 84
Figure 43: Remaining air raid shelter at the WAAF site ............................................. 69
Figure 44: Map of RAF Haverfordwest showing dispersed sites ................................. 89
Figure 45: Map of RAF Haverfordwest showing sites recorded ................................... 90
Figure 46: Turret Instructional Building at RAF Haverfordwest .................................. 96
Figure 47: Gunnery and Crew Procedure Building .................................................... 97
Figure 48: Link trainer building ............................................................................ 97
Figure 49: Main beacon at RAF Haverfordwest ....................................................... 98
Figure 50: Locations of the Outer, Main and Inner Beacons for RAF Haverfordwest ...... 99
Figure 51: Outer navigational beacon for RAF Haverfordwest .................................. 100
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Twentieth Century Military Sites: Airfields – Dispersed sites and defences
Figure 52: Inner beacon for the airfield at RAF Haverfordwest ................................ 101
Figure 53: Map showing the airfield at RAF Manorbier ............................................ 103
Figure 54: The remaining back wall of a pillbox ..................................................... 104
Figure 55: Last intact pillbox at RAF Manorbier ..................................................... 108
Figure 56: Remains of an ordnance store ............................................................. 109
Figure 57: Map of RAF Pembrey. ......................................................................... 112
Figure 58: Pembrey battle headquarters ............................................................. 113
Figure 59: Pillbox to the east of the Factory road .................................................. 114
Figure 60: Pillbox at the southern end of the Carmarthen stopline ........................... 115
Figure 61: Pillbox overlooking Factory road at Pembrey ........................................ 116
Figure 62: Observation post at Pembrey .............................................................. 117
Figure 63: Observation post at Pembrey, part of protected entrance missing ............ 118
Figure 64: Remains of a pillbox at the southwest end of the sea wall ....................... 119
Figure 65: Pillbox on the sea wall at Pembrey, note metal access treads in brickwork 120
Figure 66: Pillbox built into the sea wall ............................................................... 121
Figure 67: Pillbox with anti tank rails to the side ................................................... 122
Figure 68: Gun emplacement overlooking Cefn Sidan beach ................................... 123
Figure 69: Gun emplacement, one of three overlooking Cefn Sidan ......................... 124
Figure 70: Pickett Hamilton fort to the east of the airfield ...................................... 125
Figure 71: Pickett Hamilton fort at the north side of the airfield ............................. 126
Figure 72: Pillbox overlooking Cefn Sidan beach.................................................... 127
Figure 73: Anti-invasion defences in Cefn Sidan beach ........................................... 128
Figure 74: Radio station at RAF Pembrey, mast fixings in the foreground ................. 129
Figure 75: Traces of a road block ........................................................................ 130
Figure 76: Gun emplacement overlooking Cefn Sidan beach ................................... 131
Figure 77: Weapons pit in the foreground and pillbox beyond ................................. 132
Figure 78: Remains of a dug out road block beside pillbox PRN 31365 ..................... 133
Figure 79: Anti- tank rails with pillbox ................................................................ 133
Figure 80: RAF Pembroke Dock radio station, now a Cricket club pavilion ................ 139
Figure 81: Former Officer's mess of Llanion Barracks ............................................ 141
Figure 82: Former barracks also used by the RAF c1930 -59 .................................. 144
Figure 83: Brick built bomb stores for Pembroke Dock ........................................... 148
Figure 84: Blast wall in front of Bomb stores at Pembroke Dock ............................. 149
Figure 85: Martello tower used as a gun post in the Second World War .................... 151
Figure 86: Former radio station for RAF Pembroke Dock......................................... 152
Figure 87: Beech tree graffittied by service personnel ............................................ 153
Figure 88: Commemorative plinth of the Manchester regiment................................ 154
Figure 89: Beech tree graffittied by an American serviceman .................................. 155
Figure 90: Map showing sites associated with St Davids airfield .............................. 158
Figure 91: Map showing dispersed sites at RAF St Davids ....................................... 159
Figure 92: Map showing sites associated with RAF St Davids .................................. 160
Figure 93: Octagonal wall formerly enclosing a HF/DF tower ................................... 161
Figure 94: Destructor house south of St Davids airfield .......................................... 162
Figure 95: Ablutions block at St Davids ................................................................ 163
Figure 96: Blast shelter at the communal site ....................................................... 164
Figure 97: Remaining picket post ........................................................................ 165
Figure 98: Partially roofless ablutions block .......................................................... 166
Figure 99: Remaining building at the wireless station............................................. 167
Figure 100: Map showing sites associated with RAF Talbenny ................................. 172
Figure 101: Map showing sites associated with RAF Talbenny ................................ 173
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Twentieth Century Military Sites: Airfields – Dispersed sites and defences
Figure 102: Map showing RAF Talbenny WAAF communal site ................................. 174
Figure 103: Map showing RAF Talbenny communal site .......................................... 175
Figure 104: Map showing RAF Talbenny dispersed Sites 1 and 10 ............................ 176
Figure 105: RAF Talbenny Pump house and water system ...................................... 177
Figure 106: Pumphouse for RAF Talbenny ........................................................... 177
Figure 107: Water tank at Orlandon Kilns ............................................................ 178
Figure 108: Motley stalk gun emplacement (since modified) .................................. 179
Figure 109: Converted picket post ....................................................................... 180
Figure 110: Former gymnasium and chapel .......................................................... 180
Figure 111: Former dining room at the communal site ........................................... 181
Figure 112: Former standby set house now converted ........................................... 182
Figure 113: Derelict operations block ................................................................... 183
Figure 114: Former airmen's quarters .................................................................. 185
Figure 115: Former airmen's quarters .................................................................. 186
Figure 116: Former drying rooms associated with quarters ..................................... 187
Figure 117: Former sergeant's quarters ............................................................... 188
Figure 118: Former sergeant's quarters ............................................................... 189
Figure 119: Former airmen's quarters .................................................................. 189
Figure 120: Former airmen's quarters .................................................................. 190
Figure 121: Former airmen's quarters .................................................................. 191
Figure 122: Former sergeant's quarters ............................................................... 191
Figure 123: Former quarters PRNs 101557 & 101558 ............................................ 192
Figure 124: Former sergeants and airwomen’s quarters, now modified .................... 193
Figure 125: Reused building on WAAF site ........................................................... 195
Figure 126: Airwomen’s and Sergeant’s quarters ................................................... 195
Figure 127: Former quarters now converted ......................................................... 197
Figure 128: Former picket post now converted ..................................................... 198
Figure 129: RAF Talbenny Operations block .......................................................... 201
Figure 130: Map showing RAF Templeton sites ...................................................... 208
Figure 131: Map showing RAF Templeton dispersed sites ...................................... 209
Figure 132: RAF Templeton bomb stores and dispersed sites .................................. 210
Figure 133: Interior of the Stanton Air Raid Shelter ............................................... 211
Figure 134: One of three air raid shelters which survive at Templeton ..................... 212
Figure 135: Remains of bomb stores at RAF Templeton .......................................... 214
Figure 136: Bomb fuzing building at RAF Templeton .............................................. 215
Figure 137: Motley stalk gun emplacements in the hedgerow are RAF Templeton ...... 216
Figure 138: Remains of one of four Motley Stalk gun emplacements ........................ 217
Figure 139: Fragmentary remains of a Motley stalk gun emplacement ..................... 218
Figure 140: Brick transformer plinth .................................................................... 219
Figure 141: Main beacon for the blind landing system at RAF Templeton .................. 219
Figure 142: Rest hut for High Frequency Direction Finding installation nearby. .......... 220
Figure 143: Concrete plinth ................................................................................ 221
Figure 144: One of the remaining Air Raid Shelters ............................................... 224
Figure 145: The remains of the dining room at the communal site ........................... 226
Figure 146: Blast shelter at the communal site ..................................................... 227
Figure 147: Water tank on the communal site....................................................... 228
Figure 148: Map showing locations of other sites mentioned in gazetteer ................. 229
Figure 149: Timber hutting associated with RAF Air Sea rescue base at Ferryside ...... 230

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Twentieth Century Military Sites: Airfields – Dispersed sites and defences
SUMMARY
Following the Cadw funded 20th Century military projects in which the Airfields of south-
west Wales were studied (Pyper 2012), the dispersed facilities and defences of these
complexes are now considered. These include: accommodation blocks; weapon, fuel and
other storage facilities; defence systems; bombing decoys; and communication and
guidance facilities. Some of these are close to airfield cores, but others can be several
hundred metres from the core.

Because of the large number of airfields in Dyfed and because of the dispersed character
of the facilities, the project has been spread over two years with an interim report
produced in 2013 (Pyper, 2013). This report now supersedes this earlier work and
presents the Airfields dispersed sites and defences as a whole. After documentary
research, sites were identified for visits where possible and an assessment made of their
condition and significance. Recommendations for statutory protection are made in a
separate volume. This report should be seen as the second part to Pyper 2012,
Twentieth Century Military Sites: Airfields.

INTRODUCTION

Contrary to popular belief, Wales was not a quiet backwater during the conflicts of the
twentieth century. Its position, distant from the Continent, made it ideal for the
manufacturing, maintenance and storage of armaments, but also for military training
and research and development, including weapon testing. Fighter stations defended the
industrial towns and the docks, which were targets for German bomber planes. In the
Second World War, Wales was in the front line in the Battle of the Atlantic and the coast
was defended against a possible German invasion from Ireland (Cadw 2009, 4).

Against this backdrop, the military aviation sites in Wales form an important group. They
developed distinct functions and purposes, often forming parts of wider operational,
training or storage networks. A few sites were established to protect the coast and
shipping during the First World War. These functions were greatly expanded during the
Second World War, during the latter part of which some sites developed into transport
hubs for transatlantic flights. The function and development of each site has added to its
own unique character and has given weight to the view that they are important historical
and archaeological monuments in their entirety, each comprising a plethora of
functionally distinct elements that contribute to their status.

This project does not seek to rewrite the histories of each airfield, which are available
elsewhere. Instead it seeks to understand the significance of each site and to identify
which elements embody that significance and those which are of national and regional
importance. This understanding of the significance of each site will be underpinned by
legislative frameworks and the guidance enshrined in the 2011 Cadw document
Conservation Principles and will, where possible, also highlight priorities for future
research and recording work.

The way in which this project has been approached mirrors that of previous scheduling
enhancement projects undertaken by the Welsh Archaeological Trusts with grant-aid
from Cadw. Each site was assessed using documentary sources prior to undertaking
field visits in order to build an understanding of the site and to ascertain fieldwork
priorities. Maps, plans and aerial photographs were consulted and map regressions
produced for each site. Records were created and accompanying new point- and
polygon-based GIS data compiled as a result of the research. This information was fed
into the regional Historic Environment Records in order to contribute to our
understanding of the turbulent nature of the 20th century through surviving military
structures, and provide a basis for heritage management and development control, while
recommendations for designation are submitted to Cadw in a separate volume.
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Twentieth Century Military Sites: Airfields – Dispersed sites and defences

The four Welsh Archaeological Trusts are working to agreed guidelines. In order to
deliver key information to Cadw, the studies primarily focus on those sites identified on
the Second World War era Air Ministry Plans, with the focus being on the most significant
elements of the sites which detail their function and development. At the discretion of
the project staff the studies may diverge from this principle, only where the most
significant and functionally distinct elements of each site fall outside this defined zone.

Airfields are, by their nature large and disparate complexes, often incorporating large
tracts of land. They include a whole range of site types, from complexes of military
buildings to isolated structures which are often dispersed in the landscape beyond,
however it is important to understand that all these elements work as a whole and
cannot be viewed in isolation.

PROJECT AIMS AND OBJECTIVES
The overall aims of the project are:
 an application of definition, classification, quantification and distribution of these
sites in south-west Wales,
 assessment of the archaeological significance of these sites in both a regional and
national perspective,
 assessment of the vulnerability of this element of the archaeological resource,
 recommendations for scheduling and listing

The project’s objectives are:
 To collate available primary and secondary sources for each of the military
aviation sites in south-west Wales,
 To carry out a field assessment of each site to assess and record surviving
features,
 To incorporate this information into the Dyfed Archaeological Trust’s Historic
Environment Record (HER)
 To advise Cadw on those sites which are of national significance which should be
considered for statutory protection.

METHODOLOGY
All four Welsh Archaeological Trusts have been collaborating to ensure a consistent
approach to the pan Wales project. A project methodology was agreed and information
shared. The projects have all started with documentary research, checking the HER,
National Monuments Record (NMR), local sources, aerial photographs and crucially the
Ministry plans for each installation. In Pembrokeshire a key source has been Roger
Thomas’s, ‘Survey of 19th and 20th Century Military Buildings of Pembrokeshire’, a major
piece of work, in which many airfield sites in Pembrokeshire have been identified. Other
works have also been instrumental in providing context and histories of the aviation sites
in south-west Wales including Jones 2007, Smith 1981, Cocroft and Thomas 2003,
Phillips 2009, among other more general accounts.

Site visits have been carried out and a rapid walk over survey in order to assess the
survival of remains, record and photograph them. Post survey the results have been fed
directly into the HER, so the results are immediately available to users of the HER, both
professionally in Development Control / Planning and Heritage Management services, but
also available to the public either through Archwilio and the Archwilio App, and also
commercial and private enquiries of the HER.

The following methodology was adopted to achieve the project’s objectives:
 A desk top appraisal compiling dossiers for each site; sourcing Air Ministry / Fleet
Air Arm plans / aerial photographs / secondary sources / HER records / NMR
records etc.
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Twentieth Century Military Sites: Airfields – Dispersed sites and defences
 Site visits to each of the aviation sites where access was agreed, to photograph,
assess and record the survival of remains, their condition and likely threats.
 Create new records and enhance existing records on the HER and catalogue all
photographs
 Produce a short report including a gazetteer of sites, including assessments and a
separate report including a gazetteer of scheduling and listing recommendations.

SCOPE OF THE PROJECT
An initial assessment of the aviation sites studied in the initial report (2012) was carried
out and led to focussing on to the following list of sites which required further
investigation:

RAF ABERPORTH/BLAENANNERCH
RAF ANGLE
RAF BRAWDY
RAF CAREW CHERITON
RAF/RNAS DALE
RAF HAVERFORDWEST
RAF MANORBIER
RAF PEMBREY
RAF PEMBROKE DOCK
RAF ST DAVIDS
RAF TALBENNY
RAF TEMPLETON

In addition two RAF Air Sea Rescue stations were identified:
RAF FERRYSIDE
RAF TENBY
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Twentieth Century Military Sites: Airfields – Dispersed sites and defences

Figure 1: Map of key sites

10